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American Airlines To Keep Expanded Legroom In Coach Class
DALLAS (AP)--More legroom in coach class is a good idea after all, say American Airlines officials after deciding not to move seats closer together again.
The world's largest airline has been reconsidering passenger comfort, its fare structure and other issues in advance of Wednesday's annual shareholders' meeting of parent AMR Corp.(NYSE:AMR) (AMR).
To boost capacity with little cost, Fort Worth-based American had signaled it would return to less legroom in coach class on some planes. But airline officials decided that passengers value two to four inches of extra space, so the expanded legroom will be retained in the vast majority of jets.
The carrier, after considering whether to provide satellite television at every seat and amenities, will focus its efforts on providing more passengers power ports. Although many passengers already carry their own entertainment aboard, electrical outlets could come in handy.
The airline, which faces mounting fuel costs and other challenges, was expected to experiment again with a simplified fare system. Gerard Arpey, American's chief executive, has been presented with a plan but has told airline executives it needed more work.
Revisions to American's business plan remain likely in coming months as the airline works through the research it has gathered from a core team of 100 front-line employees brought together in January to help change the carrier. Reports from teams of the employees are due in a few weeks, covering everything from how passengers get their bags to how they respond to various fares.
"It's an ongoing continuous improvement process, just as we've done with our cost cutting program," American spokesman Roger Frizzell told The Dallas Morning News in Tuesday's editions. They're "looking at our customer service and looking for options on how we can improve our interaction."
American officials are also considering upgrading about 100 planes previously operated by Trans World Airlines Inc. (TWA.XX).
DALLAS (AP)--More legroom in coach class is a good idea after all, say American Airlines officials after deciding not to move seats closer together again.
The world's largest airline has been reconsidering passenger comfort, its fare structure and other issues in advance of Wednesday's annual shareholders' meeting of parent AMR Corp.(NYSE:AMR) (AMR).
To boost capacity with little cost, Fort Worth-based American had signaled it would return to less legroom in coach class on some planes. But airline officials decided that passengers value two to four inches of extra space, so the expanded legroom will be retained in the vast majority of jets.
The carrier, after considering whether to provide satellite television at every seat and amenities, will focus its efforts on providing more passengers power ports. Although many passengers already carry their own entertainment aboard, electrical outlets could come in handy.
The airline, which faces mounting fuel costs and other challenges, was expected to experiment again with a simplified fare system. Gerard Arpey, American's chief executive, has been presented with a plan but has told airline executives it needed more work.
Revisions to American's business plan remain likely in coming months as the airline works through the research it has gathered from a core team of 100 front-line employees brought together in January to help change the carrier. Reports from teams of the employees are due in a few weeks, covering everything from how passengers get their bags to how they respond to various fares.
"It's an ongoing continuous improvement process, just as we've done with our cost cutting program," American spokesman Roger Frizzell told The Dallas Morning News in Tuesday's editions. They're "looking at our customer service and looking for options on how we can improve our interaction."
American officials are also considering upgrading about 100 planes previously operated by Trans World Airlines Inc. (TWA.XX).
